THIS IS NOT LE WEEKEND INSIDER
KELBURN GARDEN PARTY
Where and when: Tolbooth, Stirling, Sat 29 May. Unique selling point It’s like the excellent Le Weekend festival. Just, not. www.leweekendfestival.com Having shifted the main Le Weekend festival from May to October, the organisers felt sorry for those poor lost souls left hanging, so they created this mini teaser-fest to keep them going. A jazzy undercurrent is a given, but what with the introduction of dubstep artist Jazzstepper and the Moody Boyz cropping up at least year’s full-length shindig, anything could happen. (Niki Boyle)
Where and when: Inshriach Estate, near Aviemore, Fri 18–Sun 20 Jun. Unique selling point: It’s like a big, friendly party. www.62stockton.com/insider The end of a festival would be painful for most folks, but at the expiration of Outsider Festival, the organisers simply shuffled everything a couple of miles upriver and renamed it Insider. Against the backdrop of the Cairngorm mountains, people gather round campfires (the event coincides with the Cairngorms Firewood Festival) while listening to the best alt.folk this country has to offer. (Niki Boyle)
Line-up: The Sexual Objects, Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells, Veronica Falls (pictured, below). Line-up: Sparrow and the Workshop, Three Blind Wolves, Alasdair Roberts, Trembling Bells.
Where and when: Kelburn Castle, Largs, Sat 3 & Sun 4 July. Unique selling point: A fairytale event for only 500 attendees. www.kelburngardenparty.com
Begun in the wake of 2006’s Grafitti Project, when partygoers were drawn to the carnival-like atmosphere around a group of Sao Paulo graffiti artists working on the wall of Kelburn Castle, KGP now caters for the young, hip music-loving crowd. The festival mashes together jazz musicians, dance DJs, sambistas, hip hop-ers and folksters over three areas: the Garden Stage, the Viewpoint Area and Electric Cocktail Bar. (Niki Boyle) To win tickets, see page 77. Line-up: Broken Records, DJ Vadim (pictured).
SOUTHERN FRIED MFEST
LOOPALLU
Where and when: Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and various venues, Fri 30 Jul–Sun 1 Aug. Unique selling point: A festival of American roots and traditional music – in Perth. www.horsecross.co.uk/southern-fried-2010 Where and when: macrobert and various venues, Stirling, Fri 30 Jul–Mon 2 Aug. Unique selling point: The festival’s programming team are all under 18. www.mpowerscotland.org
Where and when: Ullapool, Fri 17 & Sat 18 Sep. Unique selling point Tagline reads: ‘Unknown by most and not yet spoiled by Neds . . .’ Residents of Ullapool know that, given their remoteness, their festival, Loopallu (Ullapool spelled backwards of course) is only for dedicated music fans. The event always pulls in some future talent – Franz Ferdinand, Frightened Rabbit and Mumford & Sons are ex-guests – making for an exciting mainstage bill. Fringe gigs in smaller venues add to the energy across the weekend. A gem if you’re looking for good, clean festival fun. (Niki Boyle) To win tickets, see page 79.
Three days of blues, country, gospel, soul and R&B in this, the third year of Perth’s Americana festival. Following last year’s twin coups of Los Lobos and Booker T, this year’s big attraction is grizzled blues from Seasick Steve Wold (pictured, above). String band Carolina Chocolate Drops and blues trio The Holmes Brothers are other high- lights. (David Pollock) To win tickets, see page 79. Line-up: Seasick Steve, Justin Currie, Paul Buchanan.
Billed as ‘Scotland’s first ever arts festival produced by 12–17-year-olds’, the inaugural mFEST has so far announced a line-up including 23-year-old rapper Tinchy Stryder (pictured, above), Scots singer Pearl (& the Puppets) and hotly-tipped Essex singer-songwriter Daisy Dares You (aka Daisy Coburn, 16). Plus dance, theatre, acrobatics and comedy from 19-year-old Daniel Sloss. (David Pollock) To win tickets, see page 79.
Line-up: Tinchy Stryder, Pearl and the Puppets. Line-up: TBA.
Benicassim 15-18 Jul, Barcelona,
Lovebox Weekender
Spain, www.benic 16-18 Jul, Victoria
assim.org.uk
Headlining the four-day festival in Spain will be Dizzee Rascal, The
Park, London, www.lovebox.net
Dizzee Rascal, Grace Jones and Roxy Music
Specials, The Prodigy are just some of the
and Foals. Fingers names appearing at this
crossed that this year year’s cushy central-
the windy weather won’t London festival.
mar proceedings as it did last year.
Crail Festival The Secret Garden
Truck
Indietracks WOMAD
20-31 Jul, Anstruther, Fife, www.crail festival.co.uk
The fact that an Eddie Reader set is on the bill beneath open-air theatre
troupe Illyria and the ByreRhythm Taiko Drummers tells you everything you need to know – this eclectic fest
is very equal opportunities.
Party
23-25 Jul, Hill Farm, 23-25 Jul, The Midland
23-25 Jul, Charlton
22-25 Jul, Huntingdon, Steventon,
East Anglia, www.thisistruck.com
www.uk.secretgarden party.com
Perhaps the worst-kept secret when it comes to miniature festivals, The Secret Garden Party
returns this summer with
acts such as Gorrilaz
Sound System, Marina &
The Diamonds and Mercury Rev.
Another hidden gem, Truck festival has proved so incredible that it has
just launched its US version of the festival. The UK equivalent
boasts a mighty line-up including Esben & The Witch, This Town Needs Guns, Egyptian Hip Hop, Good Shoes, Future of
the Left, Los
Railway Centre, Ripley, www.indie tracks.co.uk
Not only are you transported to the festival on a vintage steam train, but the
bands are also excellent. Allo Darlin’, Love Is All, The Pains Of Being Pure
Park, Wiltshire, www.womad.org/
festivals
The World of Music, Art
and Dance festival brings together many acts from around the world. Some of this year’s more notable performers include
At Heart and Pooh Sticks (who have Imelda May, Rolf Harris and Nouvelle Vague.
reformed especially for this event) are all playing
Campesinos! and Islet. this summer.
26 THE LIST 27 May–10 Jun 2010